Dear Heloise: I lost the formula for a mixture of ammonia, dish liquid and another ingredient for stain removal on blouses. Could you reprint it again? - Elba, via e-mail

Heloise II - Hints from Heloise

Wednesday

May 13, 2009 at 12:01 AMMay 13, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Dear Elba: The formula you're referring to is Heloise's homemade prewash spray. This money-saving, easy-to-make recipe is a great alternative to those expensive store-bought brands, and who doesn't need to save money these days? To make your own, you'll need to mix equal parts (for example, 1/2 cup of each) of:

l water

l household ammonia

l dishwashing (NOT DISHWASHER) liquid

Put the mixture into a clean spray bottle and be sure to label. Once you spray the garment, you must wash as soon as possible - don't throw it in the hamper. Keep this money-saving stainbuster near the washer to treat those stubborn stains. It's always best to start with safe and easy cleaning products that you probably have at home before moving on to stronger, commercial products that can be expensive to buy. - Heloise

Dear Heloise: Traditionally, the gift for a first wedding anniversary is a product made of paper. When our first wedding anniversary came, I was serving in the U.S. Navy, while my wife was living with relatives. I wanted to give her a gift that would be traditional and that she would continue to receive through the years. So I signed her up for a life subscription to a magazine. She passed away this year, shortly after our 65th anniversary, but enjoyed receiving it every month as a continuing reminder of our marriage vows. - Perry Crabill, Winchester, Va.

Dear Heloise: Old, white athletic socks make great rags and dusting cloths. When a sock gets a hole in the heel, I cut a slit about 1 inch long in the top so that when I'm folding clothes, I can easily see which socks are still good and which are rags. If an old sock used as a rag gets too dirty for me to wash, I throw it away. In our household, we have plenty more where that came from. - Wanda Franklin, Columbia, Md.